Fashion 2010: A Look Back

As we prepare to usher ourselves into a new year, here's a look back at the biggest fashion stories of 2010:

Jan 13: Halston announces that a deal with Sarah Jessica Parker has been signed, making her the president and chief creative advisor for Halston Heritage.

Feb 11: Alexander McQueen, having committed suicide, is found dead in his home.  The fashion world mourns the loss of a visionary.

May 26: Hermès announces that after seven years, Jean-Paul Gaultier will be leaving his post as the creative director.  Christophe Lemaire of Lacoste will be taking over the reins.

June 9: Supermodel Coco Rocha marries James Conran in a Zac Posen dress.

Aug 29: Kate Moss announces the end of her three-year partnership with TopShop.  The winter collection to be unveiled in October will be her 14th and last collection.

Sept 2: H&M announces that its next collaboration will be with the French fashion house of Lanvin, creating mass hysteria.

Sept 8: After seventeen years of showing at Bryant Park, New York Fashion Week shows for the first time in Lincoln Center.

Nov 17: Tom Ford returns to womenswear after six years, with his Spring/Summer 2011 collection.

Dec 17: Carine Roitfeld shocks the fashion world by resigning from her position as editor-in-chief of French Vogue, a position she has held for a decade.

There have been a lot of beginnings and endings for fashion this year, and I can't wait to see what the new year will bring.  I hope that for all of you, 2011 will sparkle with contentment, love, and great fashion.  Happy New Years everyone!

Image Source: Halston Heritage, Alexander McQueen, Hermes, Coco Rocha, Kate Moss, H&M,  Lincoln Center, Tom Ford, Carine Roitfeld

Natasha Poly

At the request of angelaseeangelablog and deppa, Natasha Poly is up next on this blog's model feature!

Natasha is known for her sculpted cheekbones, her strong jawline, and her deep-set eyes.  She's been involved in countless ad campaigns ever since she made her runway debut in 2004. 

Her popularity is undeniable.  Every once in a while, after watching a runway show on Youtube, I skim the comments.  And I can't even begin to tell you how many people comment on Natasha Poly - about how well she did, or about how she should have been walking for that particular show.  Her personal style is simple in the sense that she usually dresses in all-black outfits.  Jewelery seems to be foreign to her.

Her most recent appearance was at Chanel Pre-Fall 2011:

If there are any models you want to see featured, just give me a shout if you haven't done so already!

Image Source: Style.com, Ad, Off-duty1, Off-duty2, Off-duty3, Natasha

Stylish Blogger Award

Natalie from Diary of a Girl Abroad has graciously nominated fifteen bloggers (me being one of them) for the Stylish Blogger Award.  Thank you Natalie!

With this award, I'm required to share seven things about myself, so...

1) I'm shy.  Everyone I know has always described me as quiet.  That's why I love writing!

2) Some of you may already know this, but I'm a complete hopeless romantic.  I totally believe in finding my knight in shining armor.  We'll find each other one day.

3) I don't like chocolate.  The most I can really enjoy is a small piece.

4) I love Shakespeare.  Strangely enough, I can understand the language, and in fact, I think it's a beautiful language.

5) I hardly ever leave the house without a pair of earrings on.  Earrings always manage to dress up any outfit, and I love feeling my earrings move with every movie-style whip of the head.

6) This might be obvious, but I never type in "text language".  I always type everything out, simply because it's faster for me.  It's so much easier to just type "great" than to go through the entire process of converting it to "gr8".

7) I'm a nerd.  I've stumbled my way through calculus, and now I'm drowning in organic chemistry.  Is it possible for nerds like me to love fashion this much, or am I just delusional...?

I have to nominate fifteen other stylish bloggers, and so here they are!

1) Boulevard de la Madeleine

2) CinZilicious

3) Clarabelle

4) Fashion Cappuccino

5) Fashion Doesn’t Exist

6) Fashion Geek’s Closet

7) Fashion Memoires
8) L'arc en ciel

9) Lexi @ Quirky Explosion

10) Red Umbrella Chronicles
11) Style by J

12) Style Me Fab
13) Style on the Couch

14) The girl behind the fashion mask

15) The Style Voyager

Congratulations to the fifteen bloggers above!  With this award, you're required to link back to the person that gave you the award and thank them (I find this rule quite funny), share seven things about yourself, and nominate fifteen other stylish bloggers!

Feast your eyes on this...

That's right.  For Christmas, one of the things I got was a $100 gift card to Holt Renfrew.  Not enough to get me anything on my wishlist, but it's enough to get me something!  Enough talk!  I'm going shopping!!

Update: Whoops!  Just realized one of my photos doesn't work.  Anyway, I had a great time shopping yesterday, but the sad truth is that $100 doesn't go very far in a place like Holt Renfrew!  I came across a pair of Tory Burch flats, a Rag & Bone knit cardigan, and a Diane von Furstenberg top, but none of them quite seemed good enough to spend my gift card on.  When I do find something good, I'll be sure to let you all know!

Image Source: Gift Card

Christmas Wish List

As much as everyone will tell you that Christmas is not about receiving presents, I must admit that as a fashion lover, there are bound to be a couple of things on my wish list.  I don't have specific items that I want, but rather general pieces.  How materialistic of me, I know!  But spare me...

1) A leather jacket.  I've been looking everywhere for the perfect affordable leather jacket that is somewhat edgy, but at the same time classic.  I also don't want those leather jackets with any fabric; I want a full leather jacket.  And it must be a leather jacket, not a polyurethane jacket.  They're called leather jackets for a reason.  Wow, I'm picky.

2) A wool jacket.  A camel coat would be very nice, but any neutral is perfect.  Preferably double-breasted and expertly tailored.

3) A classic tan trenchcoat.

4) A nice leather handbag.  I've got leather mini cross-body bags, but an actual handbag would be nice!

5) A pair of feminine, slouchy shorts.

6) And finally this is something I've wanted ever since I started following fashion: a superpower that would allow me to look at something in a fashion magazine and have it magically appear in front of me (in my size, and without any economical or social repercussions).  Hey, a girl can dream, can't she?

But in the end, Christmas really is about spending time with the family, appreciating life and all the joy that life brings, and I hope that when you're done opening presents, you'll take the time to remember that.  I wish you all a very Merry Christmas.

Image Source: Flare.com, Camel Coat, Trenchcoat, Bag, Shorts, Magic

Natalia Vodianova

At the request of Antonia, Natalia Vodianova is up next on this blog's model feature!

Natalia is known for her "perfect Russian features", which include her porcelain skin, shiny blonde hair, and striking blue eyes.  She is married to Justin Portman (there have been rumours of divorce, but they are exactly that: rumours), and is a mother of three children. 

As for her personal style, I honesty cannot think of how to describe it, other than it is a mix of everything.  She can be edgy, simple, classy, or glamourous!  She's got such a flexible personal style that she never fails to impress, even on the streets.

Unfortunately, Natalia walked for only two Spring/Summer 2011 shows.  She looks gorgeous at Roberto Cavalli:

Roberto Cavalli

Hakaan

If there are any models you want to see featured, just give me a shout if you haven't done so already!

*Edit: As of June 2011, Natalia officially separated from her husband.

Image Source: Natalia, Zimbio.com, Children1, Children3, Off-duty1, Off-duty2, Off-duty3, Off-duty4, Style.com

Shoeaholic

I just received an amazing Christmas present yesterday: a pair of Aldo Giombetti gladiator sandals.  Technically, it's not really a present because it's actually a hand-me-down from my friend, but she has only worn it once, and the shoe is in pristine condition.

I also received a pair of gold Tory Burch flip-flops, in somewhat less of a pristine condition, but still only worn a couple of times:

As much as I'm ecstatic to own a bit of Tory Burch, the gladiator sandals really steal the show.  I've always wanted a pair of gladiator sandals, but I didn't want to spend a lot of money on such a trendy style.  The sandals are not made from real leather, but that's not really a problem in this case.  And I'm so glad that there's a slight wedge on the sandals, because I love having a bit of a heel on all my shoes, even my flats.  I can't wait until Spring comes so that I can finally wear them out!  Whoever said you can never have too many shoes is a genius.

Image Source: Aldo, Tory Burch

Chanel Eye Candy

I'm skipping a model feature for today, but for the ladies out there, I doubt you'll blame me!  I just had time to watch Chanel's Pre-Fall 2011 collection (which was amazing), and I'm assuming many other fashion bloggers have already covered the collection for you, so I'm not going to focus on the collection this time.  I will, however, dedicate a bit of blog space to Baptiste Giabiconi.

I've said this before, but I always look forward to seeing him on the Chanel runway.  No matter what Karl Lagerfeld puts him in, he manages to look gorgeous anyway (a faux-fur bodysuit?  No problem!).  The day he is no longer Lagerfeld's favourite male model will be a sad day.

If you watch the beginning of this video here, you'll see a little smirk he does that will melt your heart.  But if he isn't your type, I have no doubt that the clothes will make up for it.

Image Source: Style.com

Monique Lhuillier Pre-Fall 2011

With my recent discovery of Monique Lhuillier, she has become a permanent on my list of "Designers to Follow".  So when I saw that she had presented her Pre-Fall 2011 collection, I just couldn't resist drooling over more of her fabulous gowns.

Lhuillier is not particularly famous for her daywear, but that doesn't mean her daywear isn't just as fantastic as her eveningwear.  For daywear, the waist was the focus, as she showed high-waisted pants and dresses that drew the eye to the slimmest part of the torso:

After that, there were no more pants to be seen, as short dresses that touched on all her signature design aspects came out.  Shoulders were also another focus of this collection, as many of the dresses were either strapless or one-shouldered:

Then finally, the full length gowns that everyone looks forward to from Lhuillier came and satisfied our desires:

And as a dramatic end, two stunningly ruched ball gowns were shown:

Lhuillier's Spring collection was all about luscious decadence, but her Pre-Fall collection was about darker glamour, achieved through several smoldering jewel tones.  With another successful collection, I doubt I'll be taking Lhuillier off my list any time soon.

See the entire collection here.